REFLECTION Until his last breath, ceaseless repentance is necessary for a Christian. St. Mark the Ascetic says: Think and you will see that the mystery of devotion in the chosen ones of God was realized through repentance. Repentance, even at the hour of death! This case occurred: an old ascetic and renown spiritual father was dying and he called for a priest to administer Holy Communion to him. Along the way a robber joined the priest and desired to see for himself how a holy man dies. The holy elder peacefully received Holy Communion and peacefully talked with the priest. The robber then wept and said: Blessed are you! Alas, what kind of death will I be worthy of? The holy elder suddenly became proud and responded to him: Be as I am and it will be to you as it is to me! The robber returned along the road weeping all the time and lamenting over himself and, at that moment, dropped dead. Then the people saw a fool for Christ as he weeps over the holy elder and dances and sings over the robber. When he was asked the reason for this, he replied: By the pride of that one [the elder] he lost all merits; the repentance of this one [the robber] he reaped all the fruits. Prologue of Ochrid
Posted on: Wed, 09 Jul 2014 11:38:00 +0000
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